- Dragon Tree: Properties and Origin
- Dragon tree species: The most popular and beautiful species
- Dragon Tree: The Perfect Location
- Propagate your own dragon tree
- Care for the dragon tree properly
- Repot Dragon Tree
- Pruning Dragon Tree
- Dragon Tree: Yellow and Brown Leaves
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The dragon tree is often found as a houseplant. Plantura has summarized all the important facts about the dragon tree for you.
Dragon Tree: Properties and Origin
The dragon tree (Dracaena) is a very popular and popular houseplant. Like the yucca palm, it belongs to the asparagus family (Asparagales), even if that might be a bit irritating at first glance. The origin of the name is Greek and means something like "female dragon". There are several theories about the naming. On the one hand, the dragon tree often sprouts more than one new shoot in the place where an old one has been removed - like a mythical dragon that regrows two heads if one is cut off. On the other hand, the name could come from the fact that escaping resin on injured areas turns red when hardened and is traditionally referred to as dragon's blood. Wherever the name comes from, the dragon tree is an easy-care eye-catcher for every living room that can do with little attention. It only flowers in very few cases because the conditions in our living rooms are suboptimal. Depending on the species, the variegated foliage forms green, red or white colored leaf edges and thus adorns the indoor palms, which can grow up to two meters high. We'll tell you how to successfully grow the popular houseplant yourself.
Dragon tree species: The most popular and beautiful species
The dragon tree genus is one of the smaller in number. More than 50 species of dragon tree are currently known. We give you an overview of the most popular types and list special features.
Dracaena fragrans
- Commonly Planted Dragon Tree Species
- Strongly fragrant flowers (with proper care)
- Glossy green variegated leaves
Dracaena deremensis
- Mostly white leaf margins, dull green leaves
- Relatively short, but very broad leaves
- Special aesthetics thanks to wide leaves
Dracaena reflexa
- Previously known as Dracaena marginata
- Grows up to 2 m tall
- Dark Green Leaves
- Very robust; low maintenance requirements
- Mostly reddish variegated leaf margins
- Tolerant to fluctuations in light and temperature
Dracaena draco
- Also known as "Canary Dragon Tree"
- Elongated, sword-shaped leaves
- Reaches heights of up to 1.60 m
Dracaena surculosa
- Visually similar to bamboo
- Origin: Tropical Africa
- Requires high temperatures (constant>15 °C)
- Relatively wide leaves with mottled patterns
- Can be propagated by division
You can find more information about dragon tree species and varieties here.
Dragon Tree: The Perfect Location
The perfect location for the dragon tree depends entirely on its species. Roughly speaking, the plants need more light the less green their leaves are. Although it is possible to gradually get the dragon trees with more green leaves used to increased light exposure, it is safer if you place your green dragon tree in a partially shaded location. Colorful species, on the other hand, can safely be exposed to higher levels of radiation.
Tip: Rotate your dragon tree regularly to prevent one-sided growth. With this you can avoid unsightly crooked growth.
You can find out here which location is best for pet owners and whether the dragon tree is poisonous or not.
Propagate your own dragon tree
The dragon tree can be easily propagated by cuttings. We give you step-by-step instructions so that nothing can go wrong.
- Detach the dragon tree 10 cm below the shoot tip, if possible
- Seal the interface (usually with wax)
- Remove 1 cm of leaves with sharp scissors to focus nutrient supply on roots and minimize transpiration through leaves
- Place the cuttings in a container with water or stick them in an airy substrate for the propagation of the cuttings
- Within the next two to threeweeks, roots should form at the end of the stem
- Dragon tree ready for planting in pot
Care for the dragon tree properly
As mentioned at the beginning, the dragon tree requires only a small part of your attention. With little effort, great results can be achieved that make the heart of every dragon tree owner beat faster. We'll tell you what's important.
Water the dragon tree
The dragon tree likes to be watered regularly so that the soil stays moist all the time. However, you must ensure that the saucer or planter does not become waterlogged in order to avoid mold and rot. Evaporation is reduced in the darker winter months, so you should also adjust the amount of water a bit.
Fertilize Dragon Tree
The dragon tree is a very vigorous plant. It is therefore important that you fertilize your darling regularly. Organic fertilizers are particularly suitable for long-term he althy fertilization. These improve the structural properties of the plant substrate, promote soil life and also supply nutrients over a longer period of time. An organic liquid fertilizer such as our Plantura organic room and green plant fertilizer is easy to use and is simply added to the irrigation water.
Dragon Tree in Winter
The treatment of the dragon tree in winter is not very different from that in summer, since as a houseplant it is not subject to great fluctuations. During the shorter winter days, the growth of your dragon tree will also slow down, so you should refrain from fertilizing. Irrigation must also be adapted to the reduced evaporation.
If you would like to look a little deeper into the proper care of your dragon tree, we have compiled everything important here in more detail.
Repot Dragon Tree
Most dragon tree varieties are relatively vigorous. That's why it's important to always keep the size of the planter in mind.
Why repot the dragon tree?
The dragon tree needs enough space to spread its roots, so it makes sense to give it a bigger environment on a regular basis. The diameter of the new vessel only has to be three to five centimeters larger than that of the old one. If the root ball does not bind the plant substrate too much, feel free to shake off some of the old soilaway. Filling with new substrate loosens the soil and improves permeability.
Tip: Repotting your dragon tree will be much easier if the soil is not completely saturated with water. So don't water your darling for two days before repotting. He can certainly cope with this without permanent damage.
When to repot the dragon tree?
In the first two to three years, experience has shown that a single repotting is sufficient. In the following years you will have to adjust the size of the pot more frequently to the growth height of your dragon tree - maybe even once a year. Basically, the dragon tree must be repotted when the roots have penetrated the entire planter.
Which substrate is suitable for repotting the dragon tree?
The dragon tree prefers slightly acidic soil, which is why you can prepare a good environment for it with commercially available potting soil. The pH of the substrate should be just over 6. You can either read the packaging of the plant substrate or check the pH range of the plant soil yourself with a pH test strip.
Tip: If the selected substrate does not quite meet the requirements, you can help yourself. Simply mix in some peat or coffee grounds.
For more expert tips, see our dedicated article "Repotting a Dragon Tree".
Pruning Dragon Tree
Unfavorable circumstances (especially poor lighting conditions) can lead to the dragon tree developing rather unsightly leaf growth, or simply not growing enough leaves. You can counteract this by shortening the dragon tree. We explain how it works.
Dragon tree when to cut?
It is difficult to pinpoint a perfect time to prune your dragon tree, as the timing always depends on the reason for the pruning. If you cut your dragon tree for propagation, this should preferably be done in the spring so that the cuttings can grow well during the long summer days. However, if you prune your dragon tree to maintain a nice shape, timing is relatively unimportant. A cut should be adjusted as needed, for example if leaf growth slows down. If you plan to make a radical cut, we recommend doing this in the winter months so that the loss of substance can be compensated for in spring and summercan be.
Dragon tree how to cut?
- Cut off the dragon tree a few centimeters below the leaf base of the main shoot. This promotes branching or the formation of new side shoots.
- Seal the interface (e.g. with candle wax).
- After a few weeks (usually two) new shoots form below the cut point.
- After a few more days, the first leaf buds grow.
You can find more detailed instructions on how to prune your dragon tree here.
Dragon Tree: Yellow and Brown Leaves
The coloring of the leaves of the dragon tree can have many causes. If you are having trouble with these phenomena yourself, just go through our checklist to get to the bottom of it:
- Direct sunlight: The variegated, mostly two-tone leaves can lose stability and turn slightly yellowish if exposed to too much sunlight. The following applies: the greener the leaf, the less sun your dragon tree can tolerate. A simple change of location can fix the problem.
- Deficiency symptoms: The dragon tree is very vigorous, which is why it needs to be supplied with sufficient water and nutrients. If it lacks either of the two, it can end up drooping. You can counteract this with regular water and fertilizer.
- Waterlogging: In contrast to deficiency symptoms, excessive care can also damage your dragon tree. If the water in the planter is too high, root respiration can be restricted or even interrupted, which also leads to yellow leaves.
- Fungal Disease and Putrefactive Bacteria: Dragon Trees are susceptible to fungal and bacterial infestations. Both are caused by low temperatures and excessive and permanent moisture in the plant substrate, which is why this infestation often takes place during the winter. Infestation by fungi or bacteria usually manifests itself in the softening of the trunk and later also in the discoloration of the leaves. The best way to control fungal and bacterial infestations is to take preventive measures. Make sure the temperatures are appropriate and avoid waterlogging in any case.
In addition to the dragon tree, there are numerous other plants that could enrich your interior. We have one for youA list of the best plants for indoors compiled.